Container with outfolded flanges



Oct.

Filed May 2, 1969 L. C. HOUSTON CONTAINER WITH OUTFOLDED FLANGES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1970 L. c. HOUSTON 3,533,547

CONTAINER WITH OUTFOLDED FLANGES Filed May 2, 1969 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. lewis C. Hausnr;

, ANDRA/Ey L. C. HOUSTON 3,533,547

CONTAINER WITH OUTFOLDED FLANGES Oct. 13., 1970 Filed May 2, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FBG.6 148i gj im, 11.4 a

FIG. 5 14@ zg INVENTOR. Lew/.s 62 Haz/stan ATTURNEY United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 229--34 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An integral blank for folding into a container body and a container body portion including end wall panels and flanges longer than the side wall as measured between the side wall side edges substantially continuously joined along the upper side wall edge and along at least a part of the upper edges of the end wall panels which are joined to respective side walls. Each flange is folded outwardly and downwardly at the upper edges and lie against the outer surfaces of the side wall and attached end wall panels, such flange being continuous adjacent the wall angle formed between the side wall and end wall panels. A flange is joined along the upper edge of each end wall, each llange 'being folded inwardly at the end wall upper edge and extending over the upper edges of the adjacent end wall panels and over the portions of the side wall flanges which are connected to the adjacent end wall panels and downwardly to lie adjacent one of the end Wall panels. All of the flanges form a perimeter covering for the upper edges of the side walls and end walls and end wall panels to inhibit moisture from entering the upper edges thereof. Self-locking features are provided in the blank and container body for maintaining the body in its erected condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to containers and more particularly to breboard corrugated containers of the type adapted for use in connection with the handling, storing and transporting perishables such as fruits, vegetables, poultry and the like.

Description of the prior art Various corrugated containers and blanks therefor have been devised to package perishables therein, including those exemplified by Pat. Nos. 3,258,188, 3,307,769, 3,366,496 and the container disclosed in patent application Ser. No. 764,424, filed Oct. 2, 1968 by Lewis C. Houston. This invention is an improvement over the container of the above application and solves the problems in the prior art by covering and shielding the normally exposed edges of the corrugations thereby inhibiting the ingress of moisture thereinto similar to the container shown in the above application. Additionally, this invention includes self-locking features of the body not disclosed in the above application or in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns an integral blank and container body folded therefrom which may best be understood by reference to the above abstract and the following claims, together with the objects set forth hereinbelow.

A general object of the invention is to provide an irnproved container and blank therefor.

Another general object of the invention is the provision of an improved corrugated container used for packaging perishables and a blank therefor.

A particular object is to provide an improved corrugated container body which includes peripheral flange ICC means to inhibit the ingress of moisture into the exposed corrugated edges.

Another particular object is the provision of an improved rectangular container body which is self-locking in the erected condition requiring no separate fastening means in the form of tape, staples or the like to maintain the lbody erect.

Specific objects include the provision of an integral blank for folding into a rectangular container body which is prescored and precut with a minimum of waste and simple to erect, and which is provided with self-locking means to maintain the body open and erect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a plan view of a container body "blank in accord with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container cover blank;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the container body erected from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the container cover erected from the blank of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 with the cover closingly engaging the body;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 3 with the cover closingly engaging the body;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7 7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional top view of one corner of the opened container tbody;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 of the container cover; and

FIG. 1'0 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 of the upper corner of the covered container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the integral blank 20 is shown in its completed form after it has been cut from a sheet of single wall corrugated board in the desired peripheral outline with a minimum waste thereof. Blank 20 has been prescored, as indicated by broken lines, and precut, as indicated by full lines to permit proper folding and manipulation into a container body. Blank 20 comprises a rectangular bottom 21, rectangular side Walls 22 and 23 extending respectively from opposite elongated bottom side edges or fold lines 24 and 25, and end walls 26 and 27 extending respectively Ifrom opposite bottom end edges or fold lines 28 and 29. Rectangular end wall panels 30 and 31 are connected respectively to side wall side edges or fold lines 32 and 33 and similar end wall panels 34 and 35 are connected to side wall 23 by fold lines 36 and 37. Flange means 40 and 41 are respectively connected to the upper edges 42 and 43 of each side wall 22 and 23 by fold lines throughout the length thereof and are connected to the upper edges 44 and 45 of the attached end wall panels 30 and 31 and the upper edges 46 and 47 of the attached end wall panels 34 and 35. Flange means 40` is seen to include a side wall flange 50 attached along fold line 57 spaced closely and parallel to fold line or upper edge 42 of side wall 22 and la pair of partial flanges 51 and 52 being connected by fold lines 53 and S4 spaced closely and parallel to fold lines or upper edges 44 and 45 of end wall panels and 31. Flanges 51 and 52 are also connected by fold lines 55 and 56 to side Wall flange 50. As seen in FIG. 1 fold lines 53 and 54 are substantially in alignment with fold line 57 and upper edges 44 and 45 of end wall panels 30 and 31 are in alignment with the upper edge 42 of side wall 22. Fold lines 53, 54 and 57 constitute a generally continuous fold line which is parallel to the upper edges 42, 22 and 45, such upper edges constituting another fold line so that ange means may be bent 90 at 42, 44 and 45 and again 90 downwardly at 53, 54, 57, whereby flange will generally lie in a plane parallel with side wall 22 and anges 51 and 52 will generally lie in planes parallel with and adjacent respectvie end walls 26 and 27, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, 7 and l0. Fold lines 55 and 56 are respectively in substantial alignment with fold lines 32 and 33 connecting between side wall 22 and respective end wall panels 30 and 31 which form the respective wall angles of the container body when erected. It is to be understood that flange means 41 includes substantially identical components as those previously described in connection with ange means 40.

Each end wall 26 and 27 includes a flange means 60 extending outwardly from the upper edge 61 of end walls 26 and 27. Each of the flange means 60 includes a ange 62 extending throughout the length of the end wall upper edge 61 and connecting means 63 formed by a pair of spaced and parallel fold lines 64 and 65 for attaching flange 62 to the upper edge 61 of end walls 26 and 27. The spacing of the fold lines 64 and 65 is sufficient to permit nesting of a plurality of thicknesses of corrugated fibreboard therebetween after the anges are bent over the end wall panels and the partial flange as shown more clearly in FIGS. 5, 6 and l0.

Fold lines 64 and 65 preferably include intermittent perforations through both liners and the corrugating medium from which the blank is made to permit the proper folding of flanges 62 outwardly and downwardly to lie externally of the outer end wall panels 30 and 34 and end wall panels 31 and 35. It is to be understood that other techniques of accomplishing substantially similar results may be employed in lieu thereof, for example, a tive point double walled score may be used which provides two scores on one face of the corrugated sheet materials and three scores on the other face thereof. Score lines and 56 are provided between partial flanges 51 and 52 and flange 50 to permit such flanges to properly bend around the corners formed at the upper end portion of the adjacent side and end walls of the container body, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 7.

The container blank 20 further includes hand cutouts in each of the end walls 26 and 27 and in end wall panels 30, 31, 34 and 35 with the hand cutouts of end wall 26 and panels 30 and 34 becoming aligned with the proper folding and erection of the blank 20 into the container body, and similarly hand cutouts 70 of end wall 27 and panels 31 and 35 coinciding to provide a suiicient handhold at each end of the erected container body. Drainage openings 71 are provided through end walls 26 and 27 which align with the drainage openings 72 in respective end wall panels 30, 31, 34 and 35 so that water which may enter through the opened container body may drain out therethrough. Spaced drainage openings 73 are also provided through side walls 22 and 23. The container may also be provided with additional openings 74 through the side walls 22 and 23, and openings 75 in flanges 62 which align with hand holdes 70 in the erected container as shown in FIG. 3. These various openings also providing for air circulation, particularly cooling air, when the container is being used to box fruit, vegetables and other perishables and the like.

Each of the flange means 60 further include a pair of narrow and elongated aps 76 connected along score lines 77 to ange 62, score lines 77 extending generally per- 4 pendicularly with respect to score lines 64 and 65 and generally parallel with the free elongated edges 78 0f aps 76. In the inner face of the corrugated blank which forms the inside of the container, a pair of depression means or indentations 79 are formed by cutting through the inner liner 80 of the corrugated board and partially into the adjacent peaks of the corrugating medium 81. Preferably, such cutting does not extend through the entire corrugated board, since this would weaken the container body and generally would not be of any particular advantage; however, a more positive lock would be provided if such an arrangement was fabricated through the container body. These indentations 79 include an edge 85 extending generally parallel to and closely adjacent to corner fold lines 33 and 37 and are located spacedly between score lines 42 and 24 in side wall 22 and between score lines 43 and 25 in side wall 23. Edges 78 of flaps 76 are adapted to contact respective edges 85 of indentations 79 when the container is in its erected condition thereby forming and locking the container body in such erected condition as shown more specifically in FIG. 3.

Each end wall 26 and 27 includes a locking tongue 86 which is cut out of the respective end wall and has a free edge 87 extending outwardly of the container body outer surfaces, as shown in FIG. 3, and being connected to connecting means 63 along and in general alignment with score line 64. Each tongue 86 is egaged by a cooperating edge 88 of the cover portion 90 of the container, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The cover blank is depicted in FIG. 2 having been properly cut and scored from a piece of single Wall corrugated board to provide the desired peripheral outline. Blank 100 comprises a rectangular top panel 91 defined by side fold line 92 and 93 and end fold lines 94 and 95. Side panels or walls 96 and 97 extend longitudinally of fold lines 92 and 93 and terminate at each end in an end locking flap or ear 98. Each locking ear 98 is hingedly attached to a respective end of the cover side walls 96 and 97 by a fold line 101 which extends parallel to the end wall fold lines 94 and 95 by which respective end wall means 102 and 103 are attached to the top panel 91. End wall means 102 and 103 include respective outer end walls 104 and 105, such end walls having outer longitudinal edges defined by double score lines 106 and 107 which are parallel to fold lines 94 and 95. Inner end walls 108 and 109 respectively engage an ear 98 with such ears being located between inner end walls 108 and 109 and the respective outer end walls 104 and 105 when the cover blank is erected into the cover as shown in FIG. 4. Each locking ear 98 includes a portion 110 cut out from respective outer end walls 104 and 105 and hingedly attached by score line 111 to the remainder of ear 98, score line 111 being generally parallel to score lines 92 and 93. An elongated slot 112 is provided in each ear portion 110 which extends along score line 111 and, when the cover is folded, such slot is adjacent and parallel to respective score lines 94 and 95. Inner end walls 102 and 103 include a pair of spaced tabs 114 extending laterally outwardly from respective edges 88 of inner end walls 102 and 103, such tabs 114 cooperating with and disposed in respective slots 112 to lock the cover blank into its erected position, as shown in FIGS. `4 and 9. A plurality of vent holes 116 are also provided in the cover blank 100 for permitting further air circulation through the covered container.

The parts of the container body 125, as shown in FIG. 3, are identified with identical reference characters as ernployed in connection with the respective corresponding parts of the blank 20 as shown in FIG. l. The container body comprises a single thickness bottom 21 joined to upstanding single thickness side walls 22 and 23 and to upstanding outer end walls 26 and 27. A pair of end wall panels 30 and 31 are connected by wall angle fold lines, such as line 32, to side wall 22, it being understood that end wall panels 34 and 35 are similarly connected to side wall 23. Each of the end walls is thus constituted by three full thicknesses of corrugated board as well as the additional thickness provided by respective panel 60.

The upper edge 43 of side wall 23 includes an outwardly and downwardly directed flange means 41 which is constituted by flange 50 and flanges 51 and 52 which are connected to end wall panels 34 and 35. Flange means 40 is connected to the upper edge 42 of side wall 22 which is constituted by an identical flange 50 and flanges 51 and 52. As seen in FIG. 3, flange 50 and flanges 51 and 52 are continuous adjacent the Wall angle formed between side walls 23 and the attached end wall panels 34 and 35 with flange 50 lying against the outer surface 127 of side wall 23 and flanges 51 and 52 lying against the outer surfaces, including surface 108, of end wall panels 34 and 35.

Outer end wall 27 and inner end wall panel 60 sandwich therebetween end wall panels 31 and 35 throughout a portion of their height. The triple thickness corrugated fibreboard end Wall with the aligned handholds 70 cut out from each of end panels 31 and 35 and outer end wall 27 provides a triple thickness handhold for the container body. Also, the openings 75 align with handholds 70r and portions of a persons fingers may extend therein thus providing additional width and strength at the lifting locations of the filled container. The openings 71 in the outer end walls 26 and 27 respectively align with drainage notches 72 in respective end wall panels 30, 31, 34 and 35.

The flange means 60 which are attached to outer end walls 26 and 27 are folded inwardly and downwardly along the parallel fold lines 64 and 65 with the end wall panels 30, 31, 34 and 35 together with the attached flanges 51, 52 being sandwiched between flange means 60 and the respective outer end walls 26 and 27.

The ends of the container body are thus erected and maintained in the erected position by locking means 1n the form of locking tabs 76 on inner end wall panel 62 engaging within depression means 79 in side walls 22 `and 23. Flange means 60 is folded inwardly and downwardly to its operative position with flange 62 in face to face contact with either end wall panel 31 or 35, herein shown in contact with panel 31, and the tabs 76, are forcibly bent along lines 77 and spring into engagement within depression means 79, Le., by tab edge 79 `contacting depression edge 85, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8.

The container body 125 includes flange means generally designated 135 peripherally around the body portion upper edge 136 to cover same thereby preventing moisture from entering the upper edge of the body. Flange means 135 includes the previously described flanges 50 and 62 which have exposed surfaces 138 and 139 that are continuous respectively from the inner wall surfaces 140 of respective walls 22 and 23 and from the outer wall surfaces 141 of respective outer walls 26 and 27 and flange means 60. The flange 50 is continuous around the wall angles which are integrally connected with flanges 51 and 52, flanges 51 and 52 being tucked beneath respective flange means 60 which are attached to outer end walls 26 and 27 with the flange means 60 extending over the respective upper exposed edges 44, 45, 46 and 47 of end wall panels 30, 31, 34 and 35.

Each of the four flaps 76 forcibly and partially nest within respective indentation 79 with flap edge 78 contacting edge 85 thereby locking the container body in its erected condition. Each of end walls 108 and 109 include an upwardly extending edge 88 when the cover is placed in its proper position covering container body 125, so that such locking edges 88 engage beneath the out-turned tongue 86, as shown in FIGS. and 10.

The erected cover is generally depicted in FIGS. 4 and 9 by numeral 145 with the parts of the cover being identified with identical reference characters as employed in connection with the respective corresponding parts of cover blank 100 as shown in FIG. 2. The cover 145 includes a top panel 91 with depending side walls 96 and 97, and depending outer end walls 104 and 105, each depending wall being attached to top panel 91. Flaps 98 are tucked between respective end walls 104, 105 and respective inner end walls 108 and 109 and tabs 114 lock within respective slots 112 to maintain the cover in its erected position.

The corrugations in body blank 20 are indicated by arrow A while arrow B depicts the corrugations in the cover blank 100. In the erected or set-up condition of the container as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the corrugations A in the side walls 22 and 23 and end wall panels 30, 31, 34 and 35 are vertical to allow the container 105 to have a high stacking strength. The corrugations in the end walls 26 and 27 are horizontal thereby providing the container 105 with side to side compression strength. With the upper edge of the container being covered by the flange means 135, previously described, moisture in the form of water spray is inhibited from entering the normally exposed corrugations at the upper ends of the side wall and/or end walls of the container. Thus, the container is particularly suitable for use in hydrocooling in which the perishables are sprayed with cooling water after packaging within a moisture resistant corrugated container prior to closing same with the cover.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and l0 illustrate with greater clarity to fabrication and construction details of the container body 125 and cover 145, such details having been adequately described hereinbefore in connection with FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 4.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is intended that all such modifications be included within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a container comprising a body portion including a rectangular bottom having side and end edges, upstanding end walls hingedly joined along said bottom end edges, upstanding side walls hingedly joined along said bottom side edges, each said side wall having opposite side edges, an end wall panel hingedly joined to each said side wall side edge, a flange longer than said side wall as measured between said side wall side edges substantially continuously joined along the upper edge of each said side wall and along at least a part of the upper edges of said end wall panels joined to respective said side wall, each said flange being folded outwardly and downwardly at said upper edges and lying against the outer surfaces of said side wall and attached end Wall panels, each said flange being continuous adjacent the wall angle formed between said side wall and end wall panels, flange means joined along the upper edge of each said end wall, each said flange means being folded inwardly and downwardly at said end wall upper edge and extending over the upper edges of the adjacent said end wall panels and over the portions of said side wall flanges which are connected to the adjacent said end wall panels, each said flange means includes a flange extending generally vertically and lying adjacent the inner surface of one of said end wall panels.

2. In the container as defined in claim 1 wherein each said flange extends throughout the length of said end wall upper edge and connecting means formed by a pair of spaced and parallel fold lines for attaching each said flange to respective said end wall upper edge.

3. In the container as defined in claim 2 wherein said pair of fold lines each include intermittent perforations for folding respective said flange into a position closely adjacent the end of said body portion.

4. In the container as defined in claim 1 wherein each said flange means further includes locking means connected to respective said flange, said body portion including additional locking means adjacent to said locking means and cooperating therewith to self-lock said body portion in its erected condition.

5. In the container as defined in claim 4 wherein each said locking means includes a pair of flaps respectively connected along each of the side edges of each of said flanges, and wherein each said additional locking means includes an indentation in each said side wall closely adjacent each of its said side edge, each said flap engages within respective said indentation thereby self-locking the erected body portion.

6. In the container as defined in claim 5 wherein each said flap is hingedly joined by a fold line to each said flange side edge and includes an elongated edge extending generally parallel to its said fold line, each said flap being foldable on its fold line toward the center of said body portion during folding of said flange means inwardly and downwardly, each said indentation including an elongated edge extending generally parallel to said side wall side edge, each said flap edge engaging against respective said indentation edge to lock said body portion in its erected condition.

7. In the container as defined in claim 5 wherein said body is formed of corrugated fibreboard, said indentations only extending into the inner liner and corrugating medium whereby the outer liner of said body side walls is uninterrupted by said indentations.

8. In the container as defined in claim 1 wherein said body is formed of corrugated moisture conditioned fibreboard, said flange and flange means forming a perimeter covering for said upper edges of said side walls and end walls and end wall panels thereby forming a moisture barrier therefor.

9. In the container as defined in claim 2 further comprising a rectangular cover portion, each end wall includes a tongue connected to said connecting means and having a portion extending outwardly of the confines of the ends of said body, upwardly extending edge means 'attached to the ends of said cover portion for selectively lockingly engaging beneath respective said tongue portion.

10. In a corrugated container comprising a body portion including a rectangular bottom having side and end edges, upstanding end wall hingedly joined along said bottom end edges, upstanding side walls hingedly joined along said bottom side edges, each said side wall having opposite side edges, an end wall panel hingedly joined to each said side wall side edge, said side walls and end wall panels and end walls having upper edges constituting the body portion upper edge, flange means peripherally around said body upper edge to cover same thereby preventing moisture from entering said upper edges, said flange means including side wall flanges having exposed outer surfaces which are continuous from the inner wall surface of each side wall and end wall panel outwardly and downwardly of the outer wall surface of each side wall and end wall panel, said flange means including end Wall flanges having exposed outer surfaces which are continuous from the outer wall surface of each said end wall and inwardly and downwardly of the inner wall surface of respective said end wall panel spaced inwardly of respective said end wall, said side wall flanges being re spectively joined to the upper edge of said side wall and the upper edges of the attached said end wall panels outwardly folded and continuous around the wall angle between said side wall and adjacent said end wall panel, said end wall flanges being respectively joined to said upper edge of each said end wall inwardly folded over the portions of the adjacent said flanges attached to said end wall panels and folded over said upper edges of said adjacent end wall panels.

11. In the container as defined in claim 10 further comprising a rectangular cover portion, each end wall includes 'a tongue connected to said connecting means and having a portion extending outwardly of the confines of the ends of said body, upwardly extending edge means attached to the ends of said cover portion for selectively lockingly engaging beneath respective said tongue portion.

12. An integral blank for folding into a container body comprising a rectangular bottom having oppositely disposed side edges and oppositely disposed end edges extending laterally of said side edges, a pair of rectangular side walls having their lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said bottom side edges, a pair of rectangular end Walls having their lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said bottom end edges, each said end wall having an elongated flange means extending outwardly from the upper edge of said end wall, a pair of rectangular end wall panels having side edges with one said side edge of each said end wall panel being connected to a respective side edge of said side wall by a fold line, each said end wall panel having a free edge adjacent and parallel respective side edges of said end walls, a pair of flange means respectively connected by fold lines to the upper edges of each said side wall throughout the length thereof and connected to the upper edges of said end wall panels attached to respective said side walls, said pair of flange means being adapted to extend outwardly from and downwardly of said side wall upper edges and of said end wall panel upper edges and being continuous adjacent the wall angle formed between said side wall and end wall panels, said flange means of each said end wall being adapted to extend inwardly from and downwardly of said end wall upper edge and said upper edges of the adjacent said end wall panels, each said end wall flange means includes a flange being adapted to extend generally vertically and to lie adjacent one of said end wall panels.

13. In the integral blank as defined in claim 12 wherein said blank is formed of moisture conditioned corrugated fibreboard, said flange means `and said pair of flange means forming a perimeter covering for said upper edges of said side walls and end walls and end wall panels of the erected container body thereby forming a moisture barrier therefor.

14. In the integral blank as defined in claim 12 wherein said flange extends throughout the length of said end wall upper edge and connecting means formed by a pair of spaced and parallel fold lines for attaching each said flange to respective said end wall upper edge.

15. In the integral blank as defined in claim 14 Wherein each said flange means further includes locking means connected to respective said flange, additional locking means located adjacent respective said side wall side edges and engageable with said respective locking means to lock the folded and erected blank.

16. In the integral blank as defined in claim 15 wherein each said locking means includes a pair of flaps respectively connected along each of the said side edges of each of Said flanges, each said additional locking means includes an indentation engaged by respective said flap.

17. In the integral blank as defined in claim 16 wherein each said flap is hingedly joined by a fold line to each said flange side edge and includes an elongated edge extending generally parallel to its said fold line, each said flap being adapted to be folded on its fold line toward the center of the erected body portion during folding of said flange means inwardly 'and downwardly, each said indentation including an elongated edge extending generally parallel to said side wall side edge, each said flap being adapted to be resiliently urged partially into respective said indentation with said flap edge engaged against said Ltdentation edge thereby locking the folded and erected ank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) 9 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner 3,450,347 6/1969 Lewis et a1. 116.26557 3/1969 Houston 229 45 S. E.LIPMAN,ASS1StantEXam1ner FOREIGN PATENTS U-S- Cl- X-R 1,341,682 9/1963 France. 5 229-31,45,52 

